⚡ Determination of the resistance and resistivity of solid materials used to avoid electrostatic charge accumulation, with a measured resistance from 10⁴ Ω to 10¹² Ω — surface resistance (disc and ring), volume resistance, resistance to ground or groundable point and point-to-point resistance, DC voltage 100 V or 10 V, electrodes of 2,5 kg mass with contact material of Shore A hardness 50–70, conditioning at (23 ± 2) °C and (12 ± 3) % RH for at least 24 h, PN-EN 61340-2-3

Electronics and EMC PN-EN 61340-2-3

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. The PKN catalogue card of PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016-11 (Polish version) gives the scope: “This part of IEC 61340 describes test methods for the determination of the electrical resistance and resistivity of solid materials used to avoid electrostatic charge accumulation, with a measured resistance in the range from 10⁴ Ω to 10¹² Ω. It takes into account existing IEC/ISO standards and other published information and gives recommendations and guidance on the appropriate method” (our translation from the Polish text of the card). We read the text in the sample of IEC 61340-2-3:2016 (edition 2.0, 2016-06) to 8.3 (the sample breaks off in the sentence on measurement areas); we do not have 8.4 (measurement procedures), 9 (calculation of resistivity), 10 (alternative electrode for non-planar and small products) or 11 (test report). In the text layer of the sample the exponents are written inline (e.g. “10 6” instead of 10⁶) — we read them from the page layout.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF IEC 61340-2-3:2016 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–8.3). The standard was prepared by IEC TC 101 “Electrostatics”; the second edition replaces the first of 2000 after technical revision. Changes according to the foreword: distinction between instrumentation for laboratory evaluation, acceptance testing and (periodic) compliance verification; alternative electrode set for non-planar or too small products; formulae for surface and volume resistivity changed in line with common practice in the main application areas of the IEC 61340 series. Introduction: resistivity is the electrical characteristic with the widest range — some thirty orders of magnitude, from the most conductive metal to almost perfect insulators; Ohm’s law applies to direct current (with alternating current reactance may interfere), so standards require DC voltage; plastics are ion conductors and charge transport depends on the field strength; the charging current (polarization) causes an asymptotic decay of current and an apparent change in resistance — in that case it is advisable to repeat the measurement after a definite electrification time with reversed polarity and average. Scope (1): methods for determining the resistance and resistivity of solid materials used to avoid charge accumulation, measured resistance from 10⁴ Ω to 10¹² Ω; recommendations on choosing a method. References (2): IEC 62631-3-1, -3-2, -3-3; ISO 1853; ISO 2951; ISO 3915; ISO 7619-1. Definitions (3): resistance — ratio of DC voltage to steady-state current; resistance to ground (Rg), to groundable point (Rgp), point-to-point (Rpp — two electrodes at a specified distance on the same surface), surface (Rs — central disc and concentric ring), volume (Rv — electrodes on both sides); surface resistivity ρs (unit Ω, notation “Ω/sq” discouraged) and volume resistivity ρv (Ω·m; unsuitable for inhomogeneous materials). Conditioning (4): conditions according to the type of material and application, the most severe expected in use (e.g. lowest and highest humidity); unless otherwise agreed — (23 ± 2) °C and (12 ± 3) % relative humidity, conditioning at least 24 h; when it has to be checked that the resistance does not fall below a minimum — additionally a test at high humidity (23 ± 2) °C, (60 ± 10) %, at least 24 h; conditioning and measurement normally in the same climate, preconditioning (e.g. removing stresses after moulding, drying) normally in a different one. Choice of method (5): when the resistance range is known — the relevant Clause 6, 7, 8 or 10; when unknown — start with methods for conductive materials (6), discard a result outside the range of the method and repeat with the method for dissipative materials (8 or 10), then insulating (7); non-planar products or products too small for the electrodes of 8.2 — Clause 10, and if the result is less than 10⁴ Ω or more than 10¹² Ω and the shape does not allow methods 6 and 7, “< 10⁴ Ω” or “> 10¹² Ω” is reported. Conductive materials (6): ISO 3915 (plastics), ISO 1853 (rubbers); insulating (7): IEC 62631-3-1, -3-2, -3-3 (plastics), ISO 2951 (rubbers). Planar dissipative materials (8): DC power supply with ammeter or ohmmeter; laboratory evaluation (8.1.2) — voltage under load (100 ± 5) V for resistances from 1 × 10⁶ Ω and (10,0 ± 0,5) V below, ohmmeter from 1 × 10³ Ω to 1 × 10¹³ Ω with an accuracy of ± 10 %, with power supply and ammeter readings from 10 pA to 10 mA, ± 10 % in total; acceptance testing (8.1.3) — as laboratory or with open-circuit voltage 100 V / 10 V and accuracy ± 20 %, in case of dispute the laboratory evaluation decides; compliance verification (8.1.4) — an instrument as for laboratory evaluation or acceptance testing, or an instrument measuring at least one order of magnitude above and below the intended range, with confirmed correlation to a laboratory or acceptance instrument, in case of dispute the acceptance or laboratory instrument decides. Electrodes (8.2): intimate contact, corrosion resistance, no reaction with the material; with guard-ring probes a gap of at least 10 mm between the centre electrode and the ring is recommended; in case of dispute — the assemblies of this standard. Probe 1 for surface resistance (8.2.2, Figure 1): central disc and concentric ring of conductive material (dimensions in the figure 30,5 ± 1 mm and 57 ± 1 mm), mass (2,5 ± 0,25) kg, contact material with a volume resistance below 10³ Ω on a stainless steel plate (not aluminium) at (10,0 ± 0,5) V and Shore A hardness 50–70 (ISO 7619-1), insulators above 10¹³ Ω. Volume resistance (8.2.3): probe 1 on top, probe 2 — stainless steel plate (not aluminium) with a permanent terminal. Resistance to ground, to groundable point and point-to-point (8.2.4, Figure 2): one or two disc probes (diameter 63,5 ± 1 mm), mass (2,5 ± 0,25) kg, the same requirements for the contact material. Test support (8.2.5): smooth, flat, with surface resistance above 1 × 10¹³ Ω (IEC 62631-3-2), at least 10 mm larger than the specimen in length and width, thickness at least 1 mm. Specimens (8.3): sampled according to the material specification; measurement areas shall not be handled or marked — here the sample ends.

STATUS (PKN catalogue cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016-11 (Polish version, published 07-12-2017, 30 pages, price group P) has no “Withdrawn” heading: Electrotechnical Sector, KT 143 Static Electricity, ICS 29.020 and 17.220.99, “Introduces: EN 61340-2-3:2016 [IDT], IEC 61340-2-3:2016 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN 61340-2-3:2002 – Polish version”, additional element: PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016-11/AC:2023-10P. The card of corrigendum AC:2023-10 could not be downloaded (the PKN shop page returned 404, 02.10.2026) — we do not know its content.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read 02.10.2026). The number 61340-2-3 appears in 15 records at 6 laboratories: AB 005, AB 128, AB 374, AB 665, AB 1552, AB 1710. In the current scopes on the PCA website (read 02.10.2026, issues from 05.09.2023 to 01.09.2026) the 2016 edition with year is given by AB 005 (“PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016”), AB 374 (PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016-11, points 8.4.1 and 8.4.2) and AB 1552 (PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016-11); AB 1710 gives both editions — PN-EN 61340-2-3:2002 with EN and IEC of 2000 and PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016-11 with EN and IEC of 2016; AB 128 and AB 665 — only the number “PN-EN 61340-2-3” without year. In the scope of AB 374 (issue No 23 of 15.12.2025) the part of the scope marked in bold italics was suspended at the request of the body — the lines with PN-EN 61340-2-3 are not marked so; in the other five scopes there are no suspensions at this number. The “Laboratories” tab (“PN-EN 61340-2-3”) shows 6 laboratories — checked with the tab query on the production server labcoda.pl on 02.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (PCA entries). AB 005 — antistatic materials, products and equipment: surface resistance, volume resistance (resistivity calculated, thickness 0,01–30 mm), resistance to earthing element and point-to-point, from 1 × 10³ Ω to 1 × 10¹² Ω (next to IEC 61340-4-10, PN-E-05203 and PN-EN 60079-32-2). AB 128 — solid electrical insulating materials and protective clothing: surface, volume, to-earthing-element and point-to-point resistance (next to PN-EN 62631). AB 374 — materials and products whose electrification may pose a hazard: surface and volume resistance with resistivity of materials with a flat surface, range (1–10¹⁰) Ω. AB 665 — flat solid materials and hoses and tubes: resistance parameters, direct measurements (mark “E”). AB 1552 — flat solid materials used to avoid charge accumulation: surface, volume and point-to-point resistance, 1 × 10⁴–1 × 10¹² Ω. AB 1710 — non-metallic solid materials: volume, surface, to-earthing-element and point-to-point resistance, direct measurement from 500 Ω to 1,0 × 10¹⁴ Ω.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Range: the method of Clause 8 covers resistances from 10⁴ Ω to 10¹² Ω — a result outside the range of the method is discarded and the measurement repeated with the method for conductive (6) or insulating (7) materials (5); three laboratories give ranges in their accreditation scopes extending beyond 10⁴–10¹² Ω, so for a result it has to be checked under which clause it was obtained. Humidity: the default (12 ± 3) % is a dry condition; checking that the resistance does not fall below a minimum requires an additional test at (60 ± 10) % (4). Polarization: the charging current gives an apparent change in resistance — repeating the measurement with reversed polarity and averaging is advisable (introduction). Instrument: acceptance testing allows an accuracy of ± 20 % and open-circuit voltage, laboratory evaluation ± 10 % and voltage under load; in case of dispute the laboratory evaluation decides (8.1). Electrodes: stainless steel plate, not aluminium; contact material of Shore A hardness 50–70 and volume resistance below 10³ Ω (8.2). Specimen: do not handle or mark the measurement areas (8.3). Edition: corrigendum AC:2023-10 is on the PKN card, but we do not know its content; AB 1710 also has the replaced 2002 edition in its scope.

WHAT WE DO NOT STATE. We do not have 8.4–11: the course of the measurement (electrification time, number of measurements), the formulae for surface and volume resistivity, the alternative electrode for non-planar products or the report requirements — so we do not state these formulae or numbers. We do not know the content of corrigendum AC:2023-10. We do not state requirements for resistance values of products — the standard gives methods, and limits follow from the material or product specification.

Method principle

Electrodes of specified shape and mass (2,5 kg) are applied to a flat specimen lying on an insulating support — a disc with a ring for surface resistance, a probe and a steel plate for volume resistance, one or two disc probes for resistance to ground and point-to-point — a DC voltage of 100 V (from 10⁶ Ω) or 10 V (below) is applied and the resistance is determined from the steady-state current, from which the resistivity is calculated; the measurement is made after conditioning at (23 ± 2) °C and (12 ± 3) % humidity and, if necessary, also at (60 ± 10) %.

Applications

• Antistatic materials, products and equipment — surface, volume, to-ground and point-to-point resistance; 6 laboratories in PCA scopes
• Flat solid materials, hoses and tubes, protective clothing — next to product standards (PN-EN 62631, PN-E-05203, PN-EN 60079-32-2)
• Product control at three levels: laboratory evaluation, acceptance testing and periodic compliance verification with an instrument of confirmed correlation

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016-11 (wersja polska; EN 61340-2-3:2016 i IEC 61340-2-3:2016 IDT); element dodatkowy PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016-11/AC:2023-10P

Title (PL)

Elektryczność statyczna — Część 2-3: Metody badań stosowane do wyznaczania rezystancji i rezystywności materiałów stałych, używanych do zapobiegania gromadzeniu się ładunku elektrostatycznego

Title (EN)

Electrostatics — Part 2-3: Methods of test for determining the resistance and resistivity of solid materials used to avoid electrostatic charge accumulation

Step-by-step procedure

1. Conditioning

   (23 ± 2) °C and (12 ± 3) % RH for at least 24 h; when checking the minimum also (60 ± 10) % RH (4). PN-EN 61340-2-3:2016-11 current (PKN cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Choice of method

   Known range — Clause 6, 7, 8 or 10; unknown — start with methods for conductive materials, discard results outside the range and repeat with the appropriate method (5).

3. Set-up

   Specimen on the insulating support; probe 1 (surface), probe 1 with plate (volume) or probes 3 (to ground, point-to-point); do not touch the measurement areas (8.2, 8.3).

4. Measurement

   DC voltage 100 V or 10 V, reading of steady-state current or resistance; procedure according to 8.4 — outside the sample; with polarization repeat with reversed polarity and average (introduction).

5. Result

   Resistance and resistivity according to Clause 9 (we do not have the formulae); outside the range for non-planar products — “< 10⁴ Ω” or “> 10¹² Ω” (5); report according to Clause 11.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• National safety regulations shall be followed for the measuring instrumentation (DC power supply, ohmmeter) (8.1.1)

Frequently asked questions